Police: Man Indicted In Homicide Met Victim Through Craigslist Ad

Anne Arundel County police said a man has been indicted in a homicide nearly four months after a victim met him to make a purchase through Craigslist.

Police said during the last several months, detectives worked tirelessly sorting through mounds of evidence that was pieced together from the crime scene coupled with multiple forensic examinations of evidence secured from search warrants that lead to identify a suspect in the homicide and robbery of 44-year-old Rene Filsfdelfo Leiva-Archila.

Leiva-Archila was fatally shot in the 7400 block of Railroad Avenue in Harmans around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2013, when he and another man met up with the suspect who lured the men as a ruse to a fictional Craigslist Ad to purchase a car. During the apparent robbery attempt, Gregory Dontae Lewis, shot and killed Leiva-Archila, police said.

Police said working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office an Anne Arundel County Grand Jury on Friday indicted Lewis, 34, of Millersville, on the following five counts including first and second-degree murder.

Detectives found Lewis in a parking lot in the 7000 block of Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie at 11:11 a.m. Friday and he was taken into custody without incident, police said.

"This case took several months and highlights both the dedication and the patience on the part of detectives who continued to vigorously pursue every piece of evidence and information until and indictment was secured," Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis said.

"It is because of the close partnership my office has with the Anne Arundel County Police Department that we can move forward in this matter from the initial investigation to charging and now on to prosecution in the homicide of Mr. Archila," Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said. "The ability of my office and the Police Department to work as a team in preparing a case of this magnitude is invaluable."

As the investigation continues to unfold we urge anyone with information on this incident to contact Detective Vince Carbonaro of the Homicide Unit at 410-222-3566 or Metro Crime Stoppers.

Authorities warn people who arrange to purchase items online through Craigslist or through other online ads to remember the following safety tips:

Before meeting an online seller, get a name and telephone number.

When going to a location to buy an online item park in a high-traffic area, preferably during daylight hours and have an adult witness accompany you.

Before meeting the seller, tell family and friends where you are going and the time you plan to meet.